Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has heaped praise on last season’s Serie A underachievers Atalanta ahead of his side’s trip to Bergamo. The reigning Italian champions head to the Gewiss Stadium to take on Gian Piero Gasperini’s men on Sunday.
Despite an early deficit in a curtain-raising 2022/23 fixture at San Siro, Milan fought back to dismantle Udinese 4-2 last week. After getting their title defence off to a promising start, the Rossoneri will be keen to build momentum ahead of their impending Champions League return. That’s where a match against Atalanta comes into play.
For years, La Dea had been their Achilles heel, yet Pioli seems to have found a recipe to handle Gasperini’s lads of late. Milan won both last season’s Serie A clashes against Atalanta by an aggregate score of 5-2, including an action-packed 3-2 triumph in this corresponding fixture.
Pioli won’t mind another intense game as long as Milan take home all three points. The Italian tactician expects Atlanta to give his side a headache with their attacking style of play. But he insists the Rossoneri will be out to play their football.
“We’ve prepared well for the match, Atalanta is a very strong team and we know them well. They play positive and attacking football. We are ready to show our way of playing on the field,” Pioli said, as relayed by the RossoneriBlog.
Milan can ill-afford to underestimate Atalanta despite La Dea’s poor 2021/22 campaign. Gasperini’s side claimed a comfortable 2-0 win at Sampdoria on the opening weekend to announce their comeback in the new season.